American Forces
There are three American commanders present at Malmedy: Lt. Colonel David Pergrin, 291st Combat Engineer Battalion, Lt. Colonel H. D. Hansen, 99th Infantry Battalion, and the commander of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion (name unknown at present. No one commander is in overall charge of the forces present at Malmedy, with the result that the defense is run on a cooperative basis. The following is a general briefing for all three American commanders, followed by specific briefings and OB's for each command.
AMERICAN PLAYER BRIEFINGS
SITUATION
The German Ardennes Offensive has pushed a "Bulge" into the line held by the First Army, and efforts are being made to hold the northern shoulder. Your commands have been brought here to Malmedy in an effort to plug a gap in the American line. The 30th Infantry Division, to which you are subordinate is operating to your right, while the 2nd Infantry Division was operating somewhere to your left. The gap here at Malmedy is to held for as long as possible.
The importance of the town lies in its location on the Warche River. Two of the regions major highways intersect here, N32 which runs west from St. Vith to Liege, while N28 runs north out of the town towards Aachen. Both highways cross the Warche River in or near the town on bridges which are essential to any military movement through the area.
In addition, there is a rail bridge across the Warche here that can be used to move heavy armor across the river with a minimum of effort. Any American counterattack will need these bridges, but they can not be allowed to fall into German hands. There is a fourth bridge in town across the Warche, but it is only usable by jeeps and light trucks.
German prisoners have announced that a night attack has been planned for early tomorrow morning. The Germans pushed south of the Malmedy early in their offensive, so an attack from that quarter must be expected. Today, the 2nd Division reported that it had been driven out of Robertville, so that there exists the possibility of an attack from that quarter. In addition, reports have come in that Route N28 to the north has been blocked by German units, and that an attack is possible down it as well. Accordingly, you must deploy to meet any possible attack from the south, east, and north board edges.
The following limitations exist on the American setup. All units may start the game entrenched anywhere on the board except with 6" of the north, east, and south board edges. The engineers have a limited amount of engineering supplies which may be placed anywhere on the board (For additional details check with the commander of the 291st Combat Engineer Battalions.)
The railroad between the station and the west edge of the board is raised on an embankment, as it also is on the east edge of the board where it passes over N32. There are four underpasses under the railway which can be used as bunkers with a capacity of one stand, either single or double. The AA Battery must be deployed in Malmedy, but may not occupy any bunker due to its need to remain deployed as a AA unit - and able to shot at aircraft.
For artillery support, the garrison has been assigned the 118th Field Artillery Battalion, which is deployed to the northwest just off the board. A communication net has been set up to allow any command stand to call fire from the battalion in place of any other order for the turn. However as soon as the Germans cross the Warche, the battalion will pack up and displace further to the rear. 291st Combat Engineer Battalion Colonel David Pergrin
Your battalion was originally assigned to the Ardennes for the purposes of supporting the operations of the 1st Army -- which ended up to be the task of running sawmills and carrying out road maintenance. When the Germans smashed though the lines you concentrated what elements of your battalion that you could and held on to Malmedy.
On the 17th, you were the first officer to learn of the massacre of the Battery B, 285th Field Observation Battalion just to the south of the town. Since then you have done what you could to repulse some German probes towards Malmedy, while awaiting reinforcements. Among your attempts to organize the defense of the town you ransacked the area for additional AT weapons, and have organized a special engineer bazooka platoon. Now that relief as come, you need to ensure that the bridges are not allowed to fall into German hands.
You have a total of 13 tons of engineering supplies in town. Each of the major bridges over the Warche will require 3 tons of explosives to destroy it, as well as the presence of one stand of engineers to detonate the charges. In addition you have 5 sets of tripfire flares. Each set is 311 long, and will illuminate a 2" by 6" area when set off. Mines and tripwires set on roads will be automatically spotted by the enemy. There has been sufficient time to emplace all engineering stores at the start of the game, as well as to entrench all stands at the start of the game.
You have in addition to the 291st under your command Company K, 120th Infantry Regiment. This company is understrength, and must be placed within 1 foot of the west board edge, as it exists as your link to the 30th Infantry Division. Your total forces are as follows:
291st COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION
Experienced, Morale 10
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS
- 1 Command Stand
1 Jeep
2 Medium Trucks with Trailers
1 Bazooka/Infantry Stand
1 Support Infantry Stand
1 Recon Jeep with MG
13 Tons Engineering Supplies
COMPANIES A & B, each with;
- 1 Command Stand
3 Engineer Stands
1 Medium Dump Truck
1 Medium Truck with AAMG
COMPANY K, 3rd BATTALION, 120th INFANTRY
Veteran, Morale 10
- 1 Command Stand
2 Infantry Stands
1 Weapons Stand
BATTERY, 49th AA BRIGADE
Experienced, Morale 9
- 1 Bazooka/Infantry Stand
1 Light Truck
1 90L50 AA (Restricted Ammunition) 1 HVAP, 2 AP, 5 HE
1 Gun Crew (DS)
1 Heavy Tractor
99th INFANTRY BATTALION Lt. Colonel H.D. Hansen
Your command is one of the most unusual ones found in the US Army during WWII. It was raised in 1943 in the State of Minnesota, with entry limited to Norwegian speaking Americans. As a result, the average age of your soldiers is higher than that usually found in an American unit, but your men are fit and ready for action. It was planned to have used the battalion in Norway, but all such plans have been shelved for the present.
Your battalion has instead till now served as the official "Palace Guard" for the 1st Army. In this capacity you were serving in Spa when word of the German breakthrough reached the 1st Army. You were ordered to take your command to Malmedy and hold the town.
There is a major concern that you are very aware of about your battalion. By nature of its rank and file, it is a close knit command for which reinforcements will not be easy to come by. It is still the goal of the battalion to see action in Norway as intended, and heavy losses taken in action could quickly doom any such hopes. You need to keep this mind throughout the battle.
Your battalion can start the game entrenched within the limitations of the American setup. Your battalion has:
99th INFANTRY BATTALION
Experienced, Morale 10
HEADQUARTERS
- 1 Command Stand
1 Jeep
1 Gun Crew Stand
1 57L52 AT Gun
1 Light Truck
1 Support Stand
1 Medium Truck with Kitchen (1 Ton Supply)
COMPANIES A, B, C, each with:
- 1 Command Stand
3 Infantry Stands
1 Weapons Stand
COMPANY D (WEAPONS)
- 1 MMG Stand
1 HMG Stand (DS)
1 Bazooka/Infantry Stand
1 81mm. Mortar Stand (DS)
3 Medium Trucks
526th ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION (-)
The 526th Armored Infantry Battalion is one of the few independent such battalions in the ETO. As such, it has learned to suffer an orphan's fate. Unlike other battalions, which are permanently assigned to an armored division, the 526th is sent where it is needed, and usually finds itself given the dirty end of the stick so to speak. Given the choice of assigning the worst task to either one of their own units, or the 526th, the 526th usually gets the worst assignment, having no friends at court so to speak.
The assignment here to Malmedy is a perfect example of this, as one of the 526th's companies was stripped off and sent elsewhere, thus sending the battalion into battle at a reduced strength. It has been reinforced with a company of towed tank destroyers, but that command has been found to be at reduced strength as well. Your task is to win the battle, though without taking heavy losses.
Your battalion can start the game entrenched within the limitations of the American setup. Your battalion has:
526th ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION (-)
Experienced, Morale 10
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS
- 1 Command Stand
1 Jeep
1 Staff/Radio M3 RTMC
1 57L52 AT Gun
1 Gun Crew Stand
2 M3A1 HTMC with AAMG
1 MMG Stand 1 M4 HTMC
1 M6 HMC
1 Recon Jeep with AAMG
COMPANIES B, C, each with;
- 1 Command Stand
1 Weapons Stand
3 Armored Infantry Stands
2 M3A1 HTMC with MG
2 M3A1 117MC with AAMG
COMPANY A, 825th TANK DESTROYED BATTALION
Experienced, Morale 10
- 1 Recon MS AC
1 Command Stand
1 Jeep
2 Gun Crew Stands (DS)
2 76L52 AT Guns
2 M3 HTMC w/MG
The following Artillery Battalion is on call for Fire Support. It should be assigned as needed by the players.
118th ARTILLERY BATTALION (105mm)
Experienced, Morale 9
- 1 Forward Observer
1 Jeep
3 105L23 Howitzers off board, each with 2 tons of ammunition. Both Smoke and Star Shell are restricted ammunition types.
Battle of Malmedy December 21, 1944
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© Copyright 1990 by Greg Novak.
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